Death Toll Reaches 125
In Southern Brazil
Floods
Rio de Janeiro - Two
weeks after one of the
worst floods in Brazil's
history, the death toll
in the country's
southern state of Santa
Catarina has reached 125
and is still rising,
local Civil Defense
reported Thursday.
Nearly 30 people are
missing in the state,
while over 33,000 are
left homeless, with
6,000 of them still
living in churches or
schools.
In the affected area,
over 40 cases of
leptospirosis have been
confirmed, while 260
suspected cases
reported, according to
the state government.
Leptospirosis is a
infectious disease
transmitted by contacts
with water, soil or food
contaminated by infected
animals' urine, usually
the rats, and can lead
to jaundice, meningitis,
hemorrhageand renal
failure.
The floods affected a
total of 1.5 million
people, almost a quarter
of the state's
population. The
international port of
Itajai in the state will
need six months and an
estimated 350 million
reais (145 million U.S.
dollars) to be fully
restored.
The natural gas pipeline
that links Brazil and
Bolivia was also damaged
by the floods. The
repairs finished
Tuesday, and the gas
supply to south Santa
Catarina and neighboring
area was restored.
On Friday, Brazilian
President Luiz Inacio
Lula da Silva will visit
the area. Donations in
cash from the Brazilian
people to the area has
reportedly surpassed 16
million reais (6.7
million dollars).
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